Clinical Trials Logo

Clinical Trial Summary

Age-related hearing loss is a substantial national problem due to its high prevalence and significant psychosocial consequences. Although hearing aids (HAs) are the primary intervention for the management of age-related hearing loss, only 15-30% of those who could benefit from HAs actually seek them out. HA adoption rates are even worse for people with lower income and for racial and ethnic minorities. One of the most commonly reported reasons for people not seeking HA intervention is the high cost of HAs and the associated audiological fitting services. Because HAs fitted using the audiologist-based service-delivery model are unaffordable, more and more Americans (1.5 million in 2010) purchase amplification devices via over-the-counter (OTC) service-delivery models to compensate for their impaired hearing. Although OTC amplification devices are gaining popularity and are regarded as an important option for promoting accessible and affordable hearing healthcare, it is unclear if they are viable solutions for age-related hearing loss as OTC models exclude professional services. Further, although there is some evidence supporting the effectiveness of OTC HAs, all previous studies measured short-term outcomes (e.g., 6 weeks). It is unknown what the long-term outcomes of OTC HAs would look like. The outcomes could improve across time because users may eventually figure out how to use HAs. On the other hand, the outcomes of OTC HAs could become poorer across time because, unlike traditional HA fitting, users do not have professionals to support them. Therefore, the overall goal of this project is to examine the longitudinal changes in OTC HA outcomes over 3 months.


Clinical Trial Description

Although hearing aids (HAs) are the first treatment of choice for age-related hearing loss, only 15-30% of those older Americans who could benefit, actually seek HAs out and use them. HA adoption rates are even lower for people with lower income and for racial and ethnic minorities. Although the answer to why so few older adults seek or use amplification is multidimensional, one common thread is that many people believe that HAs fitted using the audiologist-based model cost too much. Therefore, it is not surprising that there has been increased advocacy for a variety of over-the-counter (OTC) service-delivery models, which have increasingly been identified as important options for managing mild-to-moderate age-related hearing loss. Is the amplification intervention delivered using the OTC model an appropriate solution for age-related hearing loss? Although there is some evidence supporting the effectiveness of OTC HAs, all previous studies measured short-term outcomes (e.g., 6 weeks). It is unknown what the long-term outcomes of OTC HAs would look like. The purpose of this project is to examine the longitudinal changes in OTC HA outcomes over 3 months. Older adults with age-related hearing loss will be recruited. Pre-configured hearing aids (that simulate OTC hearing aids) will be provided to subjects. Subjects will take the full initiative and responsibility for learning and using hearing aids. HA outcomes will be measured at 6-week and 12-week post intervention. ;


Study Design


Related Conditions & MeSH terms


NCT number NCT04030299
Study type Interventional
Source University of Iowa
Contact Yu-Hsiang Wu, PhD
Phone 319-335-8728
Email yu-hsiang-wu@uiowa.edu
Status Recruiting
Phase N/A
Start date September 1, 2019
Completion date May 1, 2024

See also
  Status Clinical Trial Phase
Completed NCT04601909 - FX-322 in Adults With Age-Related Sensorineural Hearing Loss Phase 1
Enrolling by invitation NCT02729402 - Evaluation of the Impact of Cochlear Implants on Cognition in Older Adults N/A
Completed NCT01788423 - Evaluating Hearing Aid Service Delivery Models N/A
Completed NCT00371449 - Predicting Success With Hearing Aids N/A
Recruiting NCT04360109 - Study of the Association Between Presbycusis With the Incidence of Frailty
Completed NCT00488007 - Clinical Trial on Alzheimer Disease, Presbycusis and Hearing Aids N/A
Enrolling by invitation NCT03101722 - Effects of Huperzine A on Presbycusis(Δ,kHz, dB,MMSE, AD) N/A
Recruiting NCT04923087 - Impact of Auditory Stimulation in Eating Pleasure (EDERE 2021)
Completed NCT02448706 - Variability In Hearing Aid Outcomes In Older Adults N/A
Completed NCT01950013 - At-home Auditory Training Clinical Trial N/A
Recruiting NCT05125081 - Efficacy and Safety of Liuwei Dihuang Pill Versus Placebo in Presbycusis With Shen (Kidney)-Yin Deficiency Phase 2
Not yet recruiting NCT06183450 - Hearing and Cognition in Aging Adults
Completed NCT04200664 - Audiovestibular Function in Infratentorial Superficial Siderosis
Recruiting NCT03579563 - Cost-effective Hearing Aid Delivery Models N/A
Completed NCT03638323 - Age-related Hearing Loss and Lexical Disorders
Completed NCT01732289 - Genetic Study of Age Related Hearing Loss Phase 0
Recruiting NCT03720964 - Mitochondrial Genetics of Presbycusis
Completed NCT02147847 - Computer-Based Auditory Rehabilitation N/A